Chapter 83: Master, Your Disciple Is Screwed
Damian did not stop running until the forest behind him became quiet.
Only after putting a long distance between himself and Morven Kraal did he finally slow down.
He leaned against a large tree and let out a long sigh. "Damn... fighting a Golden Core cultivator while still in Foundation Establishment is not something normal people should try."
His arm was still numb, and his Qi had been drained heavily. Even with pills, that fight had been dangerous.
If he had been just a little slower, that old bastard’s spear might have pierced a hole through his chest.
Damian took a deep breath and calmed himself.
Then his eyes slowly moved toward his storage ring. "Now then..."
A faint grin appeared on his face. "Let me see what kind of good item made a Golden Core cultivator personally come out."
He reached into the storage ring and took out the sealed jade box.
The box was palm-sized, covered with thin golden patterns, and wrapped in several layers of sealing talismans.
Just holding it, Damian could feel a dense medicinal aura leaking through the cracks.
His eyes narrowed slightly. "Definitely not ordinary."
With a thought, he asked the system to inspect it.
A familiar screen soon appeared in front of him.
---
[Item Detected: Golden Soul Ascension Pill]
[Grade: Top-Rank Noble Grade]
[Type: Breakthrough Assistance Pill]
[Effect: Greatly increases the chance of a Ninth Stage Golden Core cultivator successfully breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm.]
[Additional Effect: Stabilizes the soul during the breakthrough process and reduces the risk of soul collapse, Qi deviation, and failed core transformation.]
[Warning: Only suitable for peak Golden Core cultivators. Foundation Establishment cultivators cannot consume it.]
---
Damian stared at the screen for a long moment before his mouth slowly opened. "Well... damn."
No wonder Morven wanted it.
This was not just a valuable pill.
This was basically a ticket for a Golden Core cultivator to gamble for the Nascent Soul Realm.
For someone stuck at the peak of Golden Core, this pill could change their entire fate.
Even if it did not guarantee success, increasing the chance of breaking through to Nascent Soul was already enough to make many elders go insane.
Damian looked at the jade box again and clicked his tongue. "A Top-Rank Noble Grade pill that helps Golden Core break into Nascent Soul..."
His grin became strange. "And somehow, it ended up in my hands."
For a moment, Damian almost wanted to laugh.
But then he remembered Morven’s furious face and the Night Fragrance Pavilion behind him.
His smile faded slightly. "This thing is good, but it is also trouble."
His mind quickly started running. "So what should I even do with this thing then?"
Damian, of course, could not eat it.
Selling it was an even crazier idea, and returning it to Marden Lou was even more stupid.
That merchant had almost gotten the entire escort team killed without explaining anything properly. Damian had no interest in giving such a dangerous pill back to him.
Then, suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind as he remembered something from the system screen.
His master was currently an Eighth Stage Golden Core cultivator.
If he gave this [Golden Soul Ascension Pill] to her as a gift...
Damian’s grin widened immediately.
Just thinking about Selvara’s 500× multiplier made his heart beat faster.
For a moment, Damian’s heart almost started beating like a war drum. "Hehehe..."
A shameless grin spread across his face. "This is not trouble anymore."
He carefully placed the jade box back into his storage ring. "This is a treasure chest key."
Damian looked toward the direction of the Heavenly Sword Sect and made his decision immediately.
The mission was not that important anymore because compared to this pill, the mission reward was basically nothing.
This jade box might become something that could shake his entire future.
Also, he had already protected the caravan long enough, and the others should be able to reach Redstone City if they kept running.
His priority now was simple.
Return to the sect and bring this pill back safely.
But just as Damian took a step forward, his expression suddenly changed.
A familiar pressure rolled over the forest from behind.
Damian’s mouth twitched. "Goddammit..."
He turned his head slightly and felt the aura closing in fast. "That old bastard again."
Morven Kraal had found his trail.
Damian did not hesitate.
He immediately took out another jade bottle, poured a Top-Rank Profound Grade Blood Qi Recovery Pill into his mouth, and swallowed it dry.
Warm medicinal power surged through his body again.
His tired legs regained strength, and his drained Qi recovered just enough to move.
Then lightning flashed beneath his feet.
[Thunder Flash Steps]
Damian shot forward through the forest like a streak of lightning.
Behind him, Morven’s furious voice exploded through the trees. "Bastard! Hand over the jade box!"
Damian did not even look back. "Old man, stop shouting! You’re ruining the forest atmosphere!"
Morven’s aura became even more violent.
Damian clicked his tongue and pushed his movement art harder. "Damn it. Next time, I’m picking a flower-watering mission."
---
Damian dashed through the forest as fast as he could.
Lightning flashed beneath his feet again and again, but Morven’s aura still chased him from behind like a hungry ghost.
"Damn it..." Damian gritted his teeth. "This old bastard really won’t give up."
The Heavenly Sword Sect was still far away.
Even with [Thunder Flash Steps], Damian knew he could not keep running forever. His Qi was recovering, but the pills were not magic. If this continued, Morven would eventually catch up.
"What can I do?"
His mind raced.
Fight? Too risky.
Hide? Useless against a Golden Core cultivator.
Throw away the jade box? Hell no.
Then suddenly, Damian remembered something.
His disciple token.
The token Selvara had given him was not ordinary. As her core disciple, there had to be some way to contact her in an emergency.
Damian reached into his storage ring and pulled out the token.
He stared at it while still running. "Could this thing summon Master?"
Behind him, Morven’s furious roar came closer. "Boy! You cannot escape!"
Damian’s mouth twitched. "Yeah, yeah, keep talking, old man."
Without wasting another thought, he tightened his grip around the disciple token.
CRACK!
The token shattered in his hand.
A sharp silver sword light burst into the sky.
Damian looked up and muttered, "Master... if this doesn’t work, your disciple is seriously screwed."
